Grinding machine



June 12, 19 45.

It'd- 7 e. w. BINNS ET AL.

GRINDING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 12 1945.

I G. w. BINNS ErAL GRINDING MACHIN-E Filed June 10, 1943 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 RNEYS v e 5- V 'Q QBINNS ETAL 2,377,921

GRINDn G MACHINE Filed June 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 12, 1945- G. w. BINNS Er AL 2,377,921

I. GRINDING MACHINE Filed Julie 10., 1943 LSheats-Sheet 4 INVENTORS,

kapai/ffinm- Patented June 12, 1945 GRINDING MACHINE George W. Binns and Frederick J. Theler, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The Cincinnati Milling Machine 00., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June10, 1943, Serial No. 490,254

21 Claims.

This invention relates to grinding machines.

One of the objects of this invention is'to provide a simple, thoroughly practical, and durable ball grinding machine. Another object is to provide an attachment for a centerless grinding machine which will permit the balls to be economically and accurately ground thereby. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,

and arrangements of parts, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments at this invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a centerless attachment taken on the line 22 of Figure l;-

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-Ii of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line i t of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line ti t of Figure 5; and,

Figure '7 is a section taken onthe line ll of Figure 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvement in the method and apparatusdisclosed in application Serial No. 470,314, filed December 24, 1942, for a Grinding machine and ,method of grinding.

Referring now to Figure 1, a standard centerless grinding machine is shown having a grinding wheel it and a regulating wheel i2 mounted on a bed it. Regulating wheel i2 is mounted on a carriage it (Figures 1 and 2) which moves longitudinally of the bed it on surface ways it. Carriage it is moved on ways it by a handwheel it, thus permitting the distance between the grinding and regulating wheels to be ad justed as desired.

The grinding and regulating wheels are provided with suitable truing mechanisms, generally indicated at it and H respectively, by which the active opposed surfaces of the wheels are trued. The regulating wheel 92 rotates at a relatively slow speed in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1,- and thus turns the work in the grinding throat between the wheels in a counter-clockwise direction toward the grinding wheel. The grinding wheel rotates at a high speed in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, and effects a stock removal from the work.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, an attachment, generally indicated at it, is positioned between the grinding and regulating wheels. This attachment supports and acts upon the work passing through the grinding throat. In. gen eral; the attachment includes a framework supporting a reciprocating work rest blade, generally indicated at it, mechanism for feeding work onto and along the work rest blade it, and mechanism generally indicated at 2% for driving the work rest blade it. The work, such as a train of balls, is fed into the grinding throat adjacent the, left-hand edge of the grinding wheel, as viewed in Figure 2, and is moved through the grinding throat from left to right by the cam feeding, mechanism, generally indicated at it. During the time the work is in the grinding throat, it is acted upon or actuated by the regulating wheel, grinding wheel, cam feeding mechanism, and reciprocating work rest blade. i

The framework of the attachment includes a bed plate, generally indicated at 22, which is mounted on ways it on carriage it for longitudinal movement with respect thereto. This permits the attachment, which is. positioned in a plane tangent to the surfaces of the grinding and regulating wheels, to be moved toward and from the regulating wheel. A transverse plate, generally indicated at M (Figures 2 and 3), is mounted above bed plate 22 by a pair of vertical supports, generally indicated at 25a and 2%. These supports, which are substantially similar in construction, are bolted to transverse plate it and bed plate 22, and curve rearwardly (Figure 3) so that they are out or the path of a reciprocating shuttle member, generally indicated at'tt (Figures 2 and, 3), carrying work .rest blade it.

Shuttle member iii (Figures 2 and 3) is in the form of a flat plate vertically positioned between transverse plate 2d and bed plate 22. This plate plate 22 as indicated by the dotted line 26a and lies in a cut-out portion 2% (Figure 4) of bed respectively, detailed description will be limited to roller assemblies Sid and Mb. Roller assembly lla is pivotally mounted on vertical support 25a by a stud shaft 32 (Figure 3). An arm 33 extends to theright (Figure 2) from shaft 32 and carries a roller 34 on its right-hand end. Arm 33 is resiliently urged downwardly by a spring 35 connected to bolt 88. which in turn is connected to bed plat 22. The degree or tens on of spring 25 may be adjusted by means of nuts 3?. Adjustable stops, generally indicated at 380 and 3812, are provided. which coact with a lug 88 on arm 32 to limit-upward and downward movement of the arm.

Roller assembly 30!) includes an arm 40 (Figures 2 and 3) pivotally mounted by a stud shaft 4| on the lower end of vertical support 25a. The right-hand end of arm 40, as viewed in Figure 2. carries a roller 42, which is rotatably mounted thereon by a stud shaft 48. Roller 42 may be adjusted vertically w th respect to bed plate 22 by means of a stop 44 which threads through bed plate 22 and contacts the under side of arm 40 (Figure 2). Thus the position of the roller assemblies may be adjusted with respect to the bed plate and through this adjustment, the reciprocating shuttle member which rides on the rollers may be vertically adjusted with respect to the grinding throat of the machine.

The reciprocating shuttle member "has a cutout portion 28b (Figure 2) in the center portion thereoi positioned below the grinding throat. he work rest blade it (Figure 2) is connected to reciprocating shuttle member 28 by bolts 48. which extend through the shuttle member 26. The up- I2 (Figure 2). The shaft 51 of this motor has a cam 58 (Figures 2, 4, and 6) connected to its lower end. The motor, cam, and shaft are preferablyv diagonally positioned with respect to the plane in which the attachment lies to permit cam 58 to lie in a plane parallel to the beveled edge lea of the work rest blade it (Figure 4). Cam 58 is driven by the motor in the direction of the arrow in Figure 6, and each time it makes a revolution, it moves the train of balls on the work rest blade from left to right, as viewed'in Figure 2, the width of one ball.

A feeding tube 62 (Figures2 and 4) is also connected to motor 55 by brackets 82a. This tube is preferably parallel to the shaft 5'! of motor 55, and the balls may be fed into this tube in any suitable manner, such as by a hopper. The lower end of this tube opens'immediately above the beveled edge 19a (Figures 4 and 5) of the transverse plate 21 by bolts II and its lower edge is positioned immediately above the balls in the grinding throat (Figure 4). Bolts 5| extend through slots in the retainer blade and thus ver tical adjustment of both the work rest'biade' and the retainer blade with respect to the grinding throat ispermitted. The shuttle member and thus blade I! is driven by hydraulic mechanism 20 through a rod 80 connected to shuttle member 2| by swivel joint ll. This hydraulic mechanism which reciprocates shuttle member 28 may be similar to the hydraulic mechanism described in the application referred to hereinabove although other mechanism may be used .for this P pose. A third vertical supp rt 82 (Figure 2) substantially similar in constructiomto supports Ila and "D i positioned adiacent' theleft-hand edge of the grinding wheel, as viewed in Figur 2. A

- motor II is securedto transverse plate 24 by a bracket ll (Figure 8) infant of vertical supoort work rest blade l9, and a channel portion 82a (Figure 2, 5 and '7) formed on the feeding tube 62 extends from the lower end of the feeding tube to a point adjacent the left-hand end of the grinding throat, as viewed in Figure 2. This channel portion holds the balls on the edge of the work rest blade as they are being fed into the grinding throat.

Immediately above cam 58 a second cam (Figures 2 and 5) is mounted on shaft 51 between collars 51a and 51b (Figure-5). Cam Iii acting through pin' 9| activates a latch member 80 mounted for transvers mdvement with respect to shaft 58. Cam moves latch member 0 to the left as viewed in Figures 2 and 5 and spring means (not shown) moves the latch member to the right. Latch member 60 extends through a hole BI in the lower portion of feeding tube 82,

and as shaft 51 rotates, latch 60 is withdrawn from its blocking position in the feeding tube each time cam iiimakes a revolution. In operation, the balls are fed into the feeding tube and fall downwardly therein until they strike latch member 80 (Figure 5). On each revolution of the feeding cam 58, latch memberv 60 is withdrawn to permit a ball to drop into the space provided on the edge of the work rest blade by the revolution of the cam 58. Suitable means are preferably provided for regulating the speed of motor 55 and thus the revolutions per minute of cam, 58 so that the rate of feed at which balls are fed through the grinding throat may be varied.

As the balls are fed through the grinding throat ing wheel or on axes substantially parallel to the grinding wheel. In addition, the balls are being positively fed in one direction at a uniform rate by the, feeding cam 58 with the result that when the reciprocating support is moving in the direction of feed it imparts a slow rate of rotation to the balls, in'one direction, but as it returns it imparts a .faster rate of rotation to the balls but in an opposite direction. As these forces (work rest blade l2, regulating wheel i2 and .cam ll) act simultaneously to turn the balls in different great circles. Because of this action, all points on the surface or each ball are presented to the grinding wheel as each ball passes through the grinding throat. As the balls pass from the grinding throat, the ball at the right-hand end of the train, as viewed in Figure 2, falls off of the beveled edge [9a of the work'rest blade l9 into a hopper (not shown) and passes from the machine.

It will thus be seen that thoroughly efficient apparatus for grinding balls on a centerless grinder has been provided. By the use of this apparatus, balls may be efficiently, quickly, and accurately ground. I

Thus, the several objects mentioned hereinabove,as well as many others, are successfully and practicallyaccomplished by the method and apparatus disclosed hereinabove.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter panying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: 1. In apparatus of the nature described; 1 combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grindingthroat, said regulating wheel causing rotation of said balls in the direction of said grinding wheel, and means for continuously moving said work rest means with a reciprocating action transverse to the faces of said wheels,

ing balls into said grinding throat, and means for continuously moving said work rest means with a reciprocating action transverse to the faces of said wheels.

3. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grindingthroat, said grinding and regulating wheels having plain operative faces, work rest means having a straight work supporting edge for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat, means for moving said work rest means with a reciprocating action transverse to the faces of said wheels, and means for feeding balls into said grinding throat and for causing said balls to pass through said grinding throat, said balls passing through said grinding throat on the straight work supporting edge of said work rest means.

l. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel, a regulating wheel for rotating a train of balls in the grinding throat formed between the grinding and regulating wheels in a direction toward the grinding wheel, the operative faces of each of said wheels being substantially parallel to their axes of rotation, and a reciprocating work rest blade for supporting said train of balls in said grinding. throat,

rotation imparted to said balls by said regulating wheel.

hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accom- 6. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, work rest means, reciprocating means acting through said work rest means for causing said balls to rotate in both directions alternately transverse to the direction of rotation imparted to said balls by said regulating wheel, and cam feeding means for feeding balls one at a time onto said work rest means.

'7. In apparatus of the nature described, in cornbination, a grinding wheel and a-regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, a reciprocating work rest means for supporting a of balls in said grinding throat, cam feedin means for feeding balls into and through said grinding throat, and means positioned above the balls in said grinding throat for preventing the balls from moving upwardly out of said grinding throat.

9. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a, regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, reciprocating work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throatand rotating said balls in directions transverse to the direction of rotation of said wheels, means for feeding balls into said grinding throat, and means for controlling the rate at which" balls are fed into said grinding throat.

10. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a, regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween,

reciprocating work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat and for rotating said balls in directions. transverse to the direction of rotation of said wheels, cam means for feeding said balls into and through said grinding throat, and means for controlling the rate at which said cam means feeds balls into said grinding throat.

11. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat, and rotating cam means acting directly upon one end of said train of balls for feeding said train of balls into and through said grinding throat. I

12. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat, rotating cam means act- .ing directly upon one end ofsaid train of balls for feeding said train of balls into and through said grinding throat, means for feeding balls onto said work rest means adjacent said cam means, and latch means permitting only one ball to be fed onto said work rest means each time said cam mean rotates.

13. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, reciprocating work rest means for supporting a train of balls .in said grinding throat, rotating cam means acting directly upon one end of said of said grinding and regulating wheels, and means for preventing movement of said balls transversely of said grinding and regulating wheels during the rotation ofsaid balls.

18. In apparatus of thenature described, in

combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating train of balls for feeding said train of balls into and through said grinding throat, means for feeding ball onto said work rest means adjacent said cam means, and latch means permitting only one ball to be fed onto said work rest means each time said cam means rotates.

14. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, said wheels having substantially parallel operative faces, a reciprocating shuttle member, work rest means having a substantially straight work supporting'edge mounted on said shuttle member for supporting a train of balls in said grinding wheel forming a grinding throat, reciprocating work rest means. for supporting a train ofballs in said grindingthroat, said reciprocating work rest means rotating the balls in said train of balls in directions transverse'to the faces of said grinding and regulating wheels as it reciprocates, and means for preventing movement of said balls transversely of said grinding and regulating wheels during the rotation of said balls.

19. In apparatus of the nature described, in

' combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throattherebetween, work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat, means acting through said work rest means for rotating the balls in said train of balls in directions transverse to the faces of said grinding and regulating wheels,

throat, said work rest means moving transversely .wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween,

a reciprocating shuttle member moving transverse to the direction of rotation of said grinding wheels, a work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat mounted on said shuttle member, cam'feeding'means for feeding balls into and through said grinding throat, and means for preventing balls from moving upward- 1y out of said grinding throat.

1am apparatus of the nature described, in I combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating,

wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, work rest'means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat, means acting through said work rest means for rotating the balls in said train of balls in directions transverse to the faces means to feed said balls through said grinding throat, and means for preventing movement of said balls transversely of said grinding and regulating wheels with the exception of said feeding movement during the rotation of said balls.

20'. In apparatus of the nature described, in

combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat, said wheels having substantially parallel operative faces, the operative face of each wheel being substantially parallel to the axis of its wheel, reciprocating work rest means for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat, said work rest means as it reciprocates rotating the balls in said train of-balls in directions transverse to the faces of said grinding and regulating wheels, and means preventing reciprocation of said balls with said work rest means as said work rest means reciprocates.

21. In apparatus of the nature described, in combination, a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel forming a grinding throat therebetween, a reciprocating shuttle member moving substantially parallel to the axes of said grinding and regulating wheels, a work rest blade mounted on said reciprocating shuttle member for supporting a train of balls in said grinding throat, and means for preventing reciprocating movement of said balls as said work rest blade reciprocates,

said work rest blade causing rotation of said balls in directions transverse to the faces of said grinding and regulating wheels.

GEORGE W. BINNS. FREDERICK J. THELER. 

